There is provided an in vitro three dimensional cell construct for use as a model of the avian intestine derived from avian intestinal tissue comprising avian cells organised into intestinal villi and crypts. Suitably the construct comprises an exterior surface that mimics the apical surface of a chicken intestine. Also provided are methods of making the cell construct and use of the construct as an in vitro intestinal model system to examine an agent including, but not limited to a microbe, a vaccine, a pharmaceutical, a feed additive, a toxin, a pre-biotic, post-biotic, pre pro post biotic, therapeutic, a cell, gene construct, protein, immune-modulator, an intestinal effector agent, a candidate intestinal effector agent, cell signalling inhibitor, or cell signalling activator.

A device for blood (1) is provided with a column (50) and a micro flow path (20) located downstream of the column (50). The column (50) includes a porous material as a solid phase, and blood that has contacted with the porous material flows through the micro flow path (20). In the device for blood (1), the column (50) and the micro flow path (20) are provided as separated bodies. The column (50) has a connecting part (55), the micro flow path (20) has an inlet (21a), the connecting part (55) and the inlet (21a) are connected to each other to integrate the column (50) with the micro flow path (20), and blood (BL) is allowed to pass from the column (50).

The present invention provides compositions, systems, kits, and methods for analyzing the interaction of T-cells and neoantigen presenting cells (and other cells) via discrete entity (e.g., droplet) microfluids. In certain embodiments, a microfluidic device is used to merge a discrete entity containing a T-cell, and a discrete entity containing a neoantigen presenting cell, at a merger region via a trapping element in order to generate a combined discrete entity. In particular embodiments, at least one thousand of such combined discrete entities are formed in about one second. In some embodiments, whether the receptor on the T-cell sufficiently binds the neoantigen to activate the T-Cell is detected (e.g., via detection of cytokine or granzyme B release). In certain embodiments, provided herein are methods for identifying polyfunctional T-cells or NK-cells, as well as methods of screening for such cells that would be cytotoxic if injected into a subject.

A method for separating cells in a biofluid includes pretreating the biofluid by introducing a predetermined amount of a cocktail of antibodies, flowing the pretreated biofluid through a microfluidic separation channel, and applying acoustic energy to the pretreated biofluid within the microfluidic separation channel. A system for microfluidic cell separation, capable of separating target cells from non-target cells in a biofluid includes at least one microfluidic separation channel, a source of biofluid, a source of an additive including the cocktail of antibodies, and at least one acoustic transducer coupled to the microfluidic separation channel. A kit for microfluidic cell separation is also disclosed. A method of facilitating separation of cells is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forming one or more compartments in a yield-stress fluid, wherein the one or more compartments can be one or more droplets. The yield-stress fluid is selected from polydimethylsiloxane, silicone oil, colloidal particles in water or oil, diblock or triblock copolymers in water or oil, microcellulose, xanthum gum, 0.1 wt % Carbopol and a combination thereof. The present invention is applicable for use in crystallisation, bioassays and chemical microreactors.

An in vitro endothelial cell culture system for optimizing the pulsatile working mode of a continuous flow artificial heart belongs to the technical field of artificial organs. The system includes three parts: 1) a cell culture model on a microfluidic chip and an off-chip multielement aortic arch afterload fluid mechanics circulation loop; 2) devices for simulating the power source of a cardiovascular system: a fluid loading device is realized by a pulse blood pump, and an artificial heart device is connected in parallel to both ends of the pulse blood pump; and 3) a peripheral detection and feedback control system, comprising pressure and flow sensors, a fluorescence microscope, a CCD high-speed camera system and a proportional-integral-derivative feedback control system. The system can accurately simulate the real hemodynamics microenvironment of vascular endothelial cells in different parts of the aortic arch.

Provided is an apparatus for inducing and/or controlling flow of a fluid within a microchannel in a microfluidic device. The apparatus includes a fluid reservoir configured for holding a volume of fluid to be transported through said microfluidic channel and also configured for fluid connection to an inlet of said microfluidic channel. The apparatus also includes an evaporation reservoir configured for fluid connection to an outlet of said microfluidic channel. The evaporation reservoir includes at least one wetting, wicking or hydrophilic structure positioned at least partly within the reservoir. The wetting, wicking, or hydrophilic structure is capable of absorbing or conducting a fluid present in the microfluidic channel via wicking action or capillary force and maintaining a substantially constant volume of fluid in the evaporation reservoir. In use, evaporation of fluid at the outlet results in fluid being drawn from the fluid reservoir through the microfluidic channel to thereby create a flow of the fluid in the microfluidic channel.

A device for simulating a function of a tissue includes a first structure, a second structure, and a membrane. The first structure defines a first chamber. The first chamber includes a matrix disposed therein and an opened region. The second structure defines a second chamber. The membrane is located at an interface region between the first chamber and the second chamber. The membrane includes a first side facing toward the first chamber and a second side facing toward the second chamber. The membrane separates the first chamber from the second chamber.

The present invention relates to a method for cultivating cells, in particular tissues, comprising a carrier plate unit, which has at least one access opening, at least one cultivation chamber, and at least one channel connecting the access opening to the cultivation chamber.

The present invention is drawn to devices and systems for allergen detection in a sample. The allergen detection system includes a sampler, a disposable analysis cartridge and a detection device with an optimized optical system. In some embodiments, the allergen detection utilizes aptamer nucleic acid molecules as detection agents. In some embodiments, the nucleic acids are conjugated to magnetic beads or solid surfaces such as glasses, microwells and microchips.